April is Tornado Awareness Month! Do you have a moment to talk about tornadoes? Have you heard of them? Are you aware????
5-10 min read
This is your friendly reminder to BE HUMBLED BY THE EARTH. We are all but little critters putzing around on this Big Beautiful Rock and let’s be real, we don’t stand a chance against Mommy Nature. She nurtures and sustains us but she will also Slap Us Firmly On Our Asses if we’re not prepared.
Mini-Zine PNG:
Download, print, & share this tornado PSA zine designed by Hijinx Mixed Media!
Page By Page
How To Spot A Bitch-Ass Tornado:
- Strong persistent rotation in the cloud base
- Whirling dust or debris on ground under cloud base (sometimes there is no funnel)
- Hail or heavy rain followed by either dead calm or intense wind shift
Day or night - loud, continuous roar or rumble which doesn’t fade in a few seconds like thunder - Night - small, bright, blue-green to white flashes at ground level near a thunderstorm (not silvery lightning in the clouds) that would be power lines snapping from very strong winds, potentially a tornado
Tips For Surviving a Fucken Tornado:
- Remain calm. Avoid windows
- Get into a permanent shelter (mobile homes are not safe, even if tied down) in the basement if possible.
- If there’s no basement, get onto the lowest floor in a small center room like a bathroom or closet, under a stairwell, or in an interior hallway
- Take cover under something sturdy like a workbench or heavy table or under a mattress or sleeping bag to protect yourself from falling debris
- Crouch as low as possible to the floor, facing down, and cover your head with your hands. A helmet may help protect against head injury.
- In the open outdoors, lie flat and face-down on low ground, protecting your head with your arms. Get away from trees and cars as they could be blown onto you.
The Aftermath:
- Remain calm and alert. Listen for instructions from emergency crews or local officials
- Carefully render first aid to those who are injured
- Stay away from power lines and puddles with wires in them
- Watch out for sharp objects and debris on the ground
- Stay out of heavily damaged structures
- Don’t use matches or lighters in case of leaking natural gas pipes or fuel tanks
Key Categories To Cover In Your Emergency Kit:
- Food and water:
-Water storage
-Water purification
-Food
- Health and hygiene:
-First aid kit
-Respirator
-Hand sanitizer
-Bug repellent
-Trash bags
- Light and heat
-Lantern, flashlight, headlamp
-Candles
-Fire starter tool
-Blankets, towels
- Communication and power:
-Generator, portable power, batteries, solar panels
-Emergency radio
- Tools:
-Multitool
-Gas can
-Whistle
-Duct tape
-Road map
-Compass
-Fire extinguisher
-Clean up gloves
- Storage:
-Easily accessible and weather resistant storage totes
SOURCES:
Read a more in-depth article on tornado safety here: Primary source for my zine is Tornado Safety by Roger Edwards and NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)
Read a more detailed list on emergency kits here: The Best Emergency Preparedness Supplies by Ellen Airhart
Figure out how to fold a mini-zine: How to Fold A Mini Zine By Ashley Topacio
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